chaster



(No Model.) f s sheets-sheet 1.

J. E. GHASTEB.. ORB AMALGAMATOR.

No. 492,111. Patented Feb. 28, 893.

\\\ \\\gix Illlrllllltlll s' sheets-sheet' 2.

(No Model.)

J.B.GHA`STER,. ORE AMALGAMATOR.

, W, 3. Z 9 m 8 e l A y 8I 2 1D. nv hr.

m l n t l a U Wd .L 1 7l.' 2 9 A. 0. N

.manonms PrreRs w. worauf 3 sheets-sheet a.

. (N0 Mode1.)-`l-x J E HASTER URB AMALGAMATOR.

Patente-d Peb. z8, 189s.

aww

UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EDLINGTON CHASTER, OF SI-IAWLANDS, ASSIGNOR TO THE REGENT GOLDEXTRACTING COMPANY, LIMITED, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

ORE-AMALGAMATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,711, dated February28, 1893.

Application iiled January 16, 1892. Serial No. 418,332. (No model.)Patented in England January 8, 1890,-No. 316; in Victoria December30,1890,No.8,388; inV New South Wales January 2, 1891, No. 2,714; inQueensland January 2,1891,No. 1,225; in Cape Uolony January 22, 1891,No. 165; in South Australia February 14, 1891, No. 1,855; in New ZealandMarell 4, 1891,

No. 4.879, and in Transvaal April 9, 1891, No. 237.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EDLINGTON CHAS- TER, electrical engineer, of 7Regent Place, Shawlands, in the county of Renfrew, Scotland, Vhaveinvented Improvements in Ore- Amalgamators, (for which I have receivedLetters Patent in Great Britain, No. 316, dated January 8, 1890 inVictoria, No. 8,388, dated December 30, 1890; in New South Wales, No.2,714, dated January 2, 1891; in Queensland, No. 1,225, dated January 2,1891; in Cape Colony, No. 165, dated January 22, 1891; in

South Australia, No. 1,855, dated February 14, 1891; in New Zealand, No.4,87 9, dated March 4, 1891, and in Transvaal, No. 237, dated April 9,1891,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process for the extraction of metals fromore in the manner hereinafter indicated. It is more particularlyapplicable to the extraction of gold from its ore, but may also withadvantage be Aapplied to othermetals which amalgamate with mercury. Theextraction is accomplished by amalgamation with mercury, and themerlcury is kept active by means of a current of electricity.

The apparatus by which the extraction of gold or other metals from theore is accomplished consists of a trough containing mercury. In thistrough there is a framework carrying an anode, between which and themercury a current of electricity passes (the mercury thus forming acathode) while the ore in a finely divided state is floated along thesurface of the mercury. Between the anode and the mercury there is aporous diaphragm which may be made of cloth or raw hide, or othersuitable substance. This diaphragm is attached to the framework carryingthe anode. The framework also carries a chute or pipe through which theore and water are supplied. The ore in a pulverized or equivalentcondition is driven along the surface of the mercury and underneath thediaphragm by a sufficient head of water in the chute or pipe. The bottomof the framework is shaped so that the diaphragm slopes up from theplace where the ore first comes in contact with the mercury to the placewhere water and the tailings are discharged. The area of the anode isnearly as large as the surface of the mercury so that the current ofelectricity is free to pass between the anode and the whole surface ofthe mercury. The framework carrying the anode, diaphragm, and chute issupported so as to be capable of being rapidly moved from side to side.This movementof the diaphragm on the surface of the mercury keeps thelatter in constant motion, and thus allows the ore to mix freely wi thclean mercury, which facilitates'the amalgamation of the gold or othermetal. The gold or other metal after amalgamation with the mercury isextracted in the usual way.

The invention may also be applied to the extraction of metal fromsweepings of jewelers shops. p

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 isa plan. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the line x.

A A is an iron trough containing the mercury.

B B is the framework carrying the anode C, which may be of lead,platinoid, carbon, or other suitable substance for forming the anode.The bottomC of the framework is made of wood and' perforated as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, and is used to support the anode and on the underside ofthis perforated bottom there is fixed a porous diaphragm B. Thisdiaphragm may be made of strong canvas, raw hide or any other suitablesubstance which is porous enough to allow water to pass through to makeelectrical connection be tween the anode and cathode but dense enough toprevent the mercury and ne ore reaching the anode, an acidulated liquidmay also be placed in the box B to increase the conductivity of theanode.

In the apparatus described and illustrated in the drawings the anode isplaced on the top of the perforated bottom, but I may attach it to theunderside of the perforated bottom and in contact with the porousdiaphragm. The framework also carries chutes or pipes D, through whichthe ore and water are supplied. The pulverized ore is driven along thesurface of the mercury by a suficient head of water in the chute. Theframework is placed inthe trough so that the diaphragm slopes up fromthe place where the orefirst comes in contact with the mercury to theplace where the water and tailings are discharged, and the rear wall ofthe hopper D is lower than the front wall thereof for the purpose ofpreventing the ore from passing rearward and escaping treatment.

The framework carrying the anode, diaphragm, and chute is supported bysprings E so as to be capable of being moved from side to side. This maybe done by a revolving shaft carrying a grooved cam F, in the groove ofwhich a pin G attached to the outside of the chute works while the farend of the framework is pivoted at II, Figs. l and 2. a is a perforatediron plate or wire gauze through which the water and tailings escape,but

which prevents globules of mercury being carried along with thetailings. A current of electricity from a battery or small dynamo iskept flowing from the anode through the water and ore as it passes alongthe surface of the mercury to the mercury, which thus forms the cathode.The action of the electric current prevents the mercury becomingoxidized or sickened. Nascent hydrogen is developed at the cathode whenthe electric current passes, which prevents the mercury oxidizing orbecoming dirty. The clean bright mercury is then able readily toamalgamate with the gold dac.

The process of extracting the metal from the ore is as fol1ows:-The orein a finely divided state is mixed with water and fed into Vthe chutesor pipes D, while the framework is kept in motion by the revolving shaftF, and a current of electricity is kept flowing between the anode andcathode. Water and ore are fed into the chutes or pipes until there is asufficient head of water in the chutes or pipes to overcome the head ofmercury in the trough and drive the water and ore along the surface ofthe mercury. The rate at which the ore is driven along the mercury canbe regulated to suit different ores by adjusting the slope of the bottomof the framework carrying the anode in any suitable manner as forinstance, elevating the pivot H, or by lowering the connections of thesprings E. The ore first comes in contact with a certain pressure aboveatmospheric pressure, and as it passes along the surface of the mercurythe pressure gradually diminishes and the tailings emerge from under thediaphragm at the atmospheric pressure having parted with most of thegold or other metal which amalgamates with the mercury.v The treating ofthe ore under pressure and the motion of the framework insure a freemixture of each particle of the ore with the mercury, and theelectritication of the mercury keeps it in an active condition. Thusalmost all the gold or other metal can be extracted even from refractoryores.

In some cases I ind that the extraction of metals from refractory oresis assisted and is more perfectly accomplished by the application ofheat. I therefore provide a chamber I underneath the mercury troughthrough which steam or hot water can be made to circulate in order tokeep the mercury hot.

I claiml. In apparatus for the extraction of gbld or other metals fromore `the combination of a bath of mercury forming a cathode with asuperposed anode having an area nearly as large as the area of thesurface of the mercury, said cathode being separated from the anode by aporous diaphragm whereby an electrical current may be made to passbetween the anode and the whole surface of the mercury through the oreas it moves along the surface of the mercury, substantially asexplained.

2. In apparatus for the extraction of gold or other metals from ore byamalgamation aided by electricity the combination of a bath of mercuryforming a cathode with a superposed anode, porous diaphragm and chute,and an oscillatory framework carrying the anode, porous diaphragm andchute, substantially as explained.

3. In apparatus for extracting gold or other metals from ore, a troughcontaininga bath of mercury forming a cathode, a chute for deroolivering ore and water thereinto, and an up- -greater than atmosphericpressure at the lower end of the chute, where the ore first comes incontact with the mercury is obtained, substantially as explained. Y

4. In apparatus for the extraction of gold or other' metals from oreelectrieally,atrough for containing a bath of mercury which constitutesthe cathode, a framework in the trough having a perforated bottom, aporous diaphragm secured to the bottom, and an anode' supported by saidframework, substantially as explained.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two witnesses.

JOHN EDLINGTON CI-IASTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN LIDDLE, ARTHUR HARTLEY YUILE, Both 0f 154 St. Vincent Street,Glasgow.

